My first commission after graduating was to design a little side table, that would fit either side of the client’s couch. The width would be 20 cm, with the depth (60 cm) and height (60 cm) would match the couch. At one end of the couch there would be limited access from the side, whilst at the other end of the couch the table would be accessible from both the front and the side. I proposed two designs to the client. One design was a ‘traditional’ table, narrow, with a couple of shelves and vertical dividers to allow books to be stored on end. The second design was a little…
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Fine Furniture Guild
Having graduated from the Chippendale International School of Furniture I am now able to say that I am a member of the Fine Furniture Guild! Woohoo.
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The Public’s Choice
After this year's public exhibition of students' work, I was delighted to win The Public’s Choice Award 2021 for my portfolio of furniture made whilst studying at the Chippendale International School of Furniture. Thank you to everyone that attended and voted in the competition.
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The “Blackbird” Chair
There were two weeks left before the start of the school's exhibition, and I decided to build a fifth piece of furniture that would be shown at the exhibition.
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The “Birdcage” Coffee Table
During the making of the latticework for the legs of the Buzzard console table, I happened to have them lying on their sides, and I thought to myself that with a top they would make a nice coffee table. And that's the origin of the "Birdcage" Coffee Table.
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Making the Buzzard
A friend saw my Buzzard console table and asked "How did you come up with the idea?". My answer was simply, and not very helpfully, "Just sketching shapes". However, the construction of the buzzard was not simple and proved to be quite a challenge.
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The “Buzzard” Console Table
This is my "Buzzard" console table. Another project using veneer, this time with an added layer of complexity because the surfaces to be veneered were curved. The shape evokes the buzzards so common in East Lothian.
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The “Hawk” Side Table
I would like to introduce my "Hawk" side table, veneered in zebrano and ebony. This is my first completed veneer project and was intended to be my introduction to the world of veneering.
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The “Tawny” Bedside Cabinet
I would like to introduce my first completed project - the "Tawny" bedside cabinet. The "Tawny" improves significantly upon the usefulness and practicality of existing bedside cabinet designs by offering multiple shelves which are open on three sides.
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First Build, and the Woodworker’s Curse
It's official. I have built a cabinet. It may only be the same pine cabinet that every other student also has to make as part of the course, but it's mine, and it's my first build. But something else I have discovered is the woodworker's curse: the curse of knowing all of the mistakes that are within your piece.
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Playing the Long Game 2
Two hundred rings. That's how many I was able to count in the ash tree that was to be milled at the mother-in-law's farm.
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Anti Copying in Design
ACID is the UK's leading design and intellectual property campaigning organisation. They are a not-for-profit organisation and aim to provide guidance to help their members protect their intellectual property. Whilst I do not have a significant portfolio of designs yet, I feel much more comfortable sharing prospective designs and other material online with the knowledge that I have the support of ACID should I need it.
